Toy



Sept], 1936. P, ODONNELL 2,052,841

TOY

Filed Oct. 29, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet l 1; 7 I 32 3a 32/ 0 X Elf-4 113;. zfiijd 14) B l 30 29 i a; 5 B I:

'dward 1? 020mm]! ATTORNEY Sept. 1, 1936.

E. P. ODONNELL 2,052,841

TOY

Filed Oct. 29, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 20 23 al/ma}? 029W]! 2.2 INVENTOR[Z BY 20 255.20 ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 1, 1936 warren STATES PATENTOFFICE TOY Edward P. ODonnell, Tulsa, Okla., assignor to Gayola NoveltyCompany, Tulsa, Okla., a corporation of Oklahoma My invention relates tonew and useful improvements in toys, and has for its objects; to providea toy structure of separable parts which may be built into an integralunit adapted to be caused to suddenly fly apart and disintegrate intoits separate parts; to provide in such a structure, means of lockingsaid separate parts together, and also to provide means of throwing themapart; to provide said parts in separate pairs with means of normallycausing the units of each pair to spread apart, and to also providelocking means in the nature of like pairs of parts for other pairs ofparts of said structure; to provide locking means for the completedstructure with a key lock therefor such as a control lock block or tiebar which may also be one of the parts of the structure whereby whenactuated it may unlock the entire structure, and to further provide atrigger mechanism for operating said locking means, which may be in theform of a target in or on the structureii' the structure is one designedto be unlocked upon striking a trigger target as disclosed by thedrawings.

Another object of my invention is to provide such a structure in tiersof blocks, in which certain of the blocks are arranged in pairs asaforesaid and locked together by each other and with one tier locked bya member or members of another tier. V

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as thedescription proceeds, my invention consists in the novel featureshereinafter set. forth, shown in the accompanying drawings, and moreparticularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings in which like numerals designate similar partsthruout the several views:

. The drawings disclose a structure and its parts such as abovementioned, in the form of a toy boat, the unit blocks of which may bemade of any suitable material such as of wood, wood and metal, fibercomposition, of similar substances, and it is obvious that the structuremay be made to represent any desired form such as a fort, mounted gun,train, car, etc., and that the structure may be adapted to beconstructed on the floor or on a table or other suitable surface, or maybe caused to float on water if a structure of 50 that nature be desired;and that said structure as herein particularly disclosed may bedisintegrated by a shot directed to the trigger target of the structure,but that other means might be provided for unlocking a structure of thischaracter.

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of said toy boat structure.

Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation of the trigger for said structure,shown in the form of a tunnel of said toy boat.

Fig. 3 is a view of the same in end elevation. Fig. 4 is a view in sideelevation of the control lock block or tie bar, with actuating springtherein.

Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of the same.

Fig. 6 is a view of the same in cross section on line A--A of Fig. 5,with the trigger in place and holding the actuating spring inengagement.

Fig. 7 is a view of the same in cross section on line BB of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a top plan view of a block constituting part I l of thestructure shown in Fig. l, and being one of the pair of key blocks inthe second tier of the completed structure.

Fig. 9 is a top plan view of the other of said pair of blocks.

Fig. 10 is a view of the last named block in side elevation, showing thespring actuating means for the pair of blocks of which it is one of thepair.

Fig. 11 is a view of the same in end elevation.

Fig. 12 is a view in end elevation of the block shown in Fig. 8.

Fig. 13 is a top plan view of the control block 14 shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 14 is a top plan view of the blocks or parts of the structure shownin Fig. l as the same are assembled in the second tier thereof.

Fig. 15 is a top plan view of the blocks or parts of the structure shownin Fig. 1 as the same are'assembled in the first tier thereof.

Fig. 16 is a top plan view of a block constituting part 2 of thestructure shown in Fig. 1, and being one of a pair of blocks in thefirst or base tier of said structure.

Fig. 1'7 is a top plan View of the other of said pair of blocks of whichthe block shown in Fig. 16 is one of the pair.

Fig. 18 is a view of the same in end elevation.

Fig. 19 is a view in side elevation of the block shown in Fig. 16,showing the spring actuating mechanism for the pair of blocks of whichit is one of the pair.

Fig. 20 is a view of the same in end elevation.

Fig. 21 is a View in side elevation of block numbered 8 in the firsttier of blocks, and which is one of the pair of key blocks for saidtier, the other of said key blocks of said pair being numbered 1, andshowing the spring actuating mechanism for said pair of blocks.

Numerals I to I! inclusive represent various blocks of the completedstructure shown in Fig. 1. Some of these blocks are identical andinterchangeable with each other such as blocks 3 and 5, blocks 4 and 6,and blocks I5 and I6. Some of the blocks such as blocks 9, I5 and I6have no mechanical connection with the structure but merely rest onother parts thereof, while the other blocks have mechanical featuresrelated. as will hereinafter be explained.

In order to best describe the various parts of the structure, each tierthereof will be treated separately and the peculiar properties of eachpart of the tier explained without unnecessary repetition, and in orderto make the description complete the method of building the structurewill be disclosed along with the description of the parts and theirfunctions. 1 Commencing with the parts comprising the base or firstsection or tier of the structure, a top plan view of which tier is shownin Fig. 15, all of the blocks I to 8 inclusive therein are adapted'tobearranged' and held in pairs.- I and 2-constitute a'pair, 3 and l, 5and 6, and I and 8 constitute other pairs. All of the pairs possess thesame kind of interlocking means for locking the members of thepairtogether, but the pair composed of I and '2'does not have a key lockwherewith to 7 hold another pair of blocks together, and the paircomposed of I and 8 while having such a key'l'ock for holding anotherpair of blocks together does not itself possess such 'a similar kind of'key looking facilities but is in its turn locked by a pair ofblocks'situate in the second tier of the structure. Blocks '2, 4, 6 and8, all have similar locking tongues I8 which fit into correspondingrecesses I9 in blocks I, 3, 5 and I. Blocks 2,4, 6 and 8 also'haveholding tongues 28, which while they maynot be essential, materiallyassist in holding the two parts of the pairs together against'longitudinal movement in relation to each other, particularly while thestructure is being built or moved'.". The holding tongues 20 fit into"corre- 'sponding recesses 2i in blocks I, 3', 5 and 'I. It will benotedthat the locking tongues I8 protrude at an oblique angle from theirrespective blocks, while theho'lding tongue 2|] projects at a rightangle from its block; also the locking tongueis curved in its projectionto form a hinge socket with groove, or recess I9, whereas the holdingtongue 20*is curved merely to permit it to be 'slipped'into its grooveorrecess 2i with an arcuate movement the pivot of which is the hingeprovided by locking tongue I8 and recess I9 so that the holding tongue20 may be shouldered in its recess against'the tendency of tongue I8 toslip out of its recess 19' as aforesaid. The two blocks are thus keyedtogether when locked in the manner hereinafter described.

. On each of said blocks 2, 4, 6 and '8'is a spring 22 held in a recessin its block as indicated in the drawings, which spring normallyprotrudes from its block in the position shown in Fig. 16 andcontacts'the other block of the pair-and is compressed againstsaid otherblock when the pair of blocks are placed together in the structure asshown in Fig; 15. The-spring in each pair of blocks thusnormally tendsto thrust the two members apart in a direction transverse of thecompleted structure. 7

This tendency of the spring is checked 'by the locking tongue I8 in itsrecess I6 and the pressure necessary to compress the spring and bringthe-two blocks-together. 'I-Iowever, it is further necessary to providea means of holding them together in the structure, and to hold them insuch manner that they may be suddenly released as the pairs of blocksare successively released when the entire structure is unlocked. A keylock is therefore provided by a protruding lug 23 on each of said blocksI to 6 inclusive, and a corresponding oifset portion 24 provided in eachof the blocks 3 to 8 inclusive which provides a recess within which lugs23 may be held together when the two blocks of any such pair are inengagement with the two blocks of any other pair in which the recess isprovided, when said pairs of blocks are in "position in said structure.

The recesses 24 and the lugs 23 and the tongues I3 and '21) are all sopositioned and adapted that the structure of said tier may be built asfollows; first, blocks I and 2 are interlocked with each other andpressed together as indicated in blocks 3 and 5 together against thepressure of l the spring with-in said pair, the blocks I and 2 remaininterlocked with each other, and in like manner blocks 3 and 4 arelocked into blocks-5 and 6, and these blocks in turn locked into blocksI and 8. Now then, if blocks'l and 8 were released so that the spring insaid pair of blocks would function, it would successively release all ofthe locks in the entire structure of said tier and cause it to suddenlydisintegrate into its component parts I to 8 inclusive.

However, it will be noted that on each of blocks 7 and 8 is a dowel pin'25 wherewith said blocks may be locked by blocks in the second-tierofthe structure, towhich tier reference will now be made. This tier isshown in Fig. 14 as being fully assembled, and is composed of a block -9representing a gun turret with guns therein and which has no mechanicalconnection with the rest of the structure but merely rests upon membersof the lower tier of the structure, and blocks IE! to I3 inclusive.These last named blocks are provided in pairs, the blocks-I0 and IIbeing in one pair and the: blocks I2 and I3 in another pair, as

shown in- Fig. 14, with interlocking means for each pair like that inthe blocks in the first tier. These pairs of blocks are also eachprovided with a spring mechanism 'the'sa-me as the pair- 0f blocks inthe first tier. blocks I2 and I3 each have a dowel pin hole 26 and thatthese holes correspond with the dowel holes 26, upon which only blocksI2 andI3'need to beheld together, independently 'of the structuralelements of the structure thus far completed, in order to prevent saidstructure from flying apart.

Blocks I0 and II are then united in the same manner and the recessformed by their ofiset portions 24 slipped over the lugs '23 on blocksI2 and I3, thus locking said last namedbloc'ks together. Block 9 maythen be placed on the structure. However, blocks I0 and II have to be Itwill be noted that held together, for as yet there is no final lock tothe structure. It will be noted that blocks l and H are each providedwith a dowel pin 21 which is shown in square form but which may be ofany suitable shape. These pins 21 project upwardly from the face oftheir respective blocks.

In order to key the whole structure together a master lock or controllock block I4 is provided, which may now be placed on the second tier ofblocks. This block has dowel pin holes 28 in its under side with theholes corresponding with the dowel pins 21 when blocks in and H are inposition in the structure and by means of said pins and holes aforesaidblock l4 may act as a tie bar to hold the structure togetherindependently of any other holding means.

However, provision must be made whereby block l4 may disengage itselffrom the dowel pins 21 for the purpose of unlocking the entire structureand causing it to fly apart. This is effected by providing a spring 29in a recess in said block M with the spring normally projecting from thebottom of said block as shown in Figs. 4 to '7 inclusive and adapted tobe pressed into its recess and locked by a trigger when said block I4 isin place in the structure. In this manner, when the spring is actuated,the block M is caused to be thrown upwardly and to disengage itself fromthe dowel pins 21. The spring 29 is held against operation by thetrigger arrangement shown in Figs. 6 and 7, said arrangement being thatof the aforementioned target l'l whereon is a shaft 30 with a hook onits end adapted to engage said spring in the manner shown in Figs. 5, 6and '7, and with said shaft inserted thru aperture 3| in said block andwith said target resting on said block and adapted to rock thereon, whenit is struck, by reason of the beveled bottom portion 32 thereof wherebythe operation of the trigger is facilitated. Blocks I5 and I6 may thenbe placed on the completed structure as shown in Fig. 1.

In operation, after the structure has been fully built and capped by thecontrol lock block I4 with its spring held by said trigger target, aprojectile may be directed at said structure with the object of strikingthe target I! to cause the trigger to operate, which when done releasesspring 29 causing it to lift block M off dowel pins 21, thussuccessively unlocking all of the locks in the entire structure andcausing said structure to suddenly disintegrate into its component unitblocks.

Having thus fully disclosed my invention, what I claim and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. A toy block structure wherein certain of the blocks are arranged in aplurality of pairs, a pair of blocks-as aforesaid, a spring positionedbetween them, and locking means for holding said pair of blocks togetheragainst the normal tendency of said spring to throw them apart.

2. In a toy block structure as claimed in claim 1; and wherein one ofsaid locking means for said pair of blocks is a projection on one of theblocks of said pair and a corresponding recess in the other block ofsaid pair shaped to receive said projection, and with the axis of saidprojection directed at an oblique angle from the axis of the jointure ofthe blocks of said pair.

3. A toy block structure wherein certain blocks are arranged in aplurality of pairs, means for urging the blocks of a pair of blocksapart, means for locking said blocks together in pairs, means forlocking said pairs of blocks together, and a trigger mechanism forreleasing said locking means thruout said structure.

4. A toy block structure wherein a plurality of certain blocks arearranged in pairs, a pair of blocks as aforesaid, means in said pair ofblocks for normally causing the blocks of said pair to spread apart, anda curved projection on one of said blocks of said pair adapted to engagea recess in the other of said blocks of said pair and to resist thenormal tendency of said blocks to spread apart by the action of saidspreading means.

5. In a toy block structure as claimed in claim 4, and anotherprojection on one of said blocks of said pair adapted to engage acorresponding recess in the other block of said pair to align and holdsaid blocks of said pair longitudinally of each other.

6. A pair of blocks of a toy block structure wherein certain of theblocks are arranged and held in pairs, 9. spring positioned between theblocks of said pair, interlocking means for holding said blocks togetherwhen further locked, and means for further locking said pair of blockswith another pair of blocks of the structure.

'7. A pair of blocks as claimed in claim 6; and with said last namedmeans comprising a lug on each of said pair of blocks adjoining theirline of division.

8. A toy block structure wherein are tiers of blocks certain of whichare arranged in pairs, a pair of blocks, a compression spring betweenthe blocks of said pair, means for interlocking said blocks of the pairtogether, means of locking pairs of said blocks together, means oflocking said tiers of blocks together, and means of suddenlydisintegrating said structure into its component block units.

9. In a toy block structure including block units adapted for suddendisintegration into its component block units, a lock block for lockingsaid structure together and with said lock block constituting one of thesaid block units, and a trigger actuated spring on said lock block.

EDWARD P. ODONNELL.

